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UMass duo has a special connection on gridiron

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Redshirt sophomore Andrew Ford has started the last two games for UMass.Getty Images/Getty

University of Massachusetts quarterback Andrew Ford rolled left and found tight end Adam Breneman in the back of the end zone late in the third quarter of the Minutemen's 21-13 victory over Florida International Sept. 17.

The 1-yard pass was Ford's third touchdown completion in his first Division 1 start. It was Breneman's second touchdown catch in a UMass uniform.

For the former teammates at Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pa., it was just like old times.

"I'm pretty sure our moms were crying in the stands," Breneman said. "It was a pretty cool moment for us."

Ford and Breneman played one full high school season together in 2011, when Ford was a sophomore and Breneman a junior.

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"That season we broke a ton of records," Breneman said. "I broke every record that our school had in receiving and Andrew broke every record that our school had in passing."

Breneman missed his senior season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He started as a true freshman at Penn State and finished his first season with 15 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Another knee injury cost Breneman his sophomore year, and injuries limited him to just two games as a junior.

Breneman received his undergraduate degree from Penn State last December and decided to reconsider his playing options. His friendship with Ford helped Breneman decide to transfer to UMass Aug. 2, as did his friendship with former Nittany Lions quarterback and UMass transfer Austin Whipple, son of UMass coach Mark Whipple.

"I know how good of a player he is, so I'm really happy he's on our side," Ford said. "He's been a big-time target for me for a long time now, so I understand where he's going to be on the field in certain situations, and the same goes for him."

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After he was named Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Ford went to Virginia Tech and redshirted his freshman year, then transferred to Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pa., as a sophomore.

He transferred to UMass in the spring and began this season as backup to fellow redshirt sophomore quarterback Ross Comis.

The two live together, are roommates on the road, and have forged a friendship off the field.

"I can't stress enough how helpful he's been," Ford said. "If I'm out there, Ross is my biggest supporter, and when he's out there, I'm his biggest supporter and it's really good as a unit."

After Comis was shaken up in Week 2 against BC, Ford got the nod against FIU. He made his first FBS start at McGuirk Stadium with his family, Breneman's family, and plenty of friends in the crowd.

"It's something that I've been working towards for a long time and a goal I've had, so to really go out and be able to fulfill that dream is cool," Ford said. "I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I will down the road, but it was fun and I was glad I was able to go out there and help my guys win.

"It was really neat to be in Amherst and be able to get a lot of people to the game. To be able to share that moment with all of us as a group is something I'll never forget."

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Ford, a 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound lefty, completed 28 of 42 passes for 278 yards. He tossed three touchdown passes and was intercepted once vs. FIU.

He connected with Breneman 10 times for 77 yards, helping the 6-4, 250-pounder become the first UMass tight end to notch double-digit receptions in a game since Rob Blanchflower in 2012.

"I feel like we kind of had that connection where he always knows where I'm going to be on the field," Breneman said. "We kind of clicked right away."

Ford started the following week against Mississippi State at Gillette Stadium and threw for four touchdowns in a 47-35 loss.

"I've seen a lot of guys kind of saying, 'Man, I didn't know Andrew was that good,' " Breneman said. "But I've seen it. He's one of those guys who has an air of confidence about him. He's a big-time playmaker and a guy this team trusts."

Emily McCarthy can be reached at emily.mccarthy@globe.com.